Zipper



p 1964 A. STEINGRUEBNER 3,149389 ZIPPER Original Filed Aug. 4, 1959 INVENTOR. ARTHUR STEINGRBNER ""l6zlimwaad 5M United States Patent 3,149,389 ZI1PER Arthur Steingruebner, Bonn (Rhine), Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, t Wahl Brethers, New York, N.Y. a parinership Original application Aug. 4, 1959, SEI. N0. 831,628. Divided and this applieatien Mar. 14, 1963, Ser. N0. 301,220

Ciaims priority, applicatien Germany Aug. 7, 1958 7 Ciarns. (C1. 242(95.13)

This invention relates to zippers, and more particularly to zippers consisting of two interlocked elongated elements, each element being composed of a plurality of longitudinally consecutive interlocking members, and being constituted by a single length of elastically resilient elongated material.

It is conventional to attach a zipper element to the edge of a carrier tape in such a manner that the individual interlocking members are spacedly arranged in a row.

The spacing of consecutive members of one element must be smaller than the Width of the individual members 0f the other element to be received therebetween in order to assure locking and the necessary resistance to aceidental opening.

It is difiicult to maintain uniform spacing cf members Within close tolerance in a zipper element of the type With which this invention is more specifically concerned, particularly when the interlocking elements are made of plastic wire. In many known zippers, preformed wire or strip has to be employed to ensure locking, whereas round wire cannot be used.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide coutinuous interlocking zipper elements capable of being made from plastie wires or threads of any cross section, and particularly frorn round wires.

It is another object to provide continuous interlocking elements for zippers in which the distance between individual members of the elements is maintained securely and permanently, whereby a zipper is obtained which has a long service life, and which remains safely in the closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the elongated elements two of which may be engaged to close the zipper of the invention, are composed of a plurality cf longitudinally consecutive interlocking members. The members of each element are constituted by a Single length of elas tically resilient elongated material. Longitudinally con tiguous sections of this length of material constitute in each member, in order, a first connecting portion in common With an adjacent other member, a first leg portion, a head portion, a second leg portion, and a second comneeting portion in common with another adjacent member.

The several portions of each member are elongated. The leg portions and the head portion extend in a common plane transverse of the direction of elongation of the element which is normally straight. The connecting portions of each member are obliquely inclined relative to that common plane, and relative to the normal direction of elongation of the element so (hat the length of material in the element may be considered to have the shape of a somewhat deformed spiral.

Contrary to the known zipper elements made of a coiled length cf material, the elements of the invention can be made of round wire which is manufactured more easily and at lower cost. Obviously, wire of non-eircular cross section can be employed as well. If a plastic thread 01 wire is used, it is preferably manufactured from polyarnide, polyurethane, or polyester resin and prestretched before it is shaped into the interlocking elements. The head portions of the individual interlocking members interconnect the two elements of each zipper in a manner known in itself, and not requiring detailed description. The head portions preferably have a central enlarged portion. The interlocking elements of the present invention can be sewn to a supporting zipper tape very easily, and without employing auxiliary elements. Common lock seams, zig-zag seams, or chain stitch seams may be employed.

The invention Will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying draw- .tng in which:

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a portion cf an interlocking element of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the element cf FIG. 1 taken on the line IIII in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the element of FIG. 1 taken 011 the line ]1IIII;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a detail of the device of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a modification of the element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 Shows another modified element in a sectional view corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 5; and

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate sewing methods for fastening the interlocking elements of the invention to zipper tape.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show continuous interlocking zipper ele ments. The leg portions 2, 2', 2a, 2b cf each member of an element are disposed approximately perpendicnlarly relative to the direction of elongation of the zipper indicated by the line 1 in FIG. l, and in a common plane With the corresponding head portion 6. The legs have respective foot parts 3, 3', 3a, 3b which are joined by connecting portions 4 each of which is common to two adjacent members of the interlocking element. The connecting portions in all illustrated embodiments of the invention are obliquely inclined relative to the direction of elongation 1'of the element, relative to any plane 5 parallel to the normal position of the face of a tape 10 to which the element is sewn, and relative to the common planes of the leg and head portions of the several members, as best seen in FIG. 2.

In the embodirnents of the invention shown in FIGS. l t0 5, the foot parts 3, 3' of the legs 2, 2' 0f each member are closely spaced in substantially parallel alignment, whereas the major portions cf the legs diverge from each other toward the lateral ends of the head portion 6. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 diifers from that illustratecl in FIGS. 1 to 3 by grooves 9 on the outward sides of the legs 2. The grooves 9 receive a sewing thread when the element is sewn to a zipper tape.

The leg portions of the interlocking members illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 are symmetrical with respect to a plane 5 which transversely bisects the associated head portion 6. The two legs 2a, 2b of the interlocking member shown in FIG. 6 are asymmetrieal with respect to any plane transverse of the direction of elongation of the head portion 6. The leg 2a is substantially straight whereas the leg 2b is curved and has a face opposite the leg 2a which is convexly curved in the afore-mentioned common plane. Adjacent the respective connecting portions 4, the toe pa.rts of the legs 2a, 2b are in contaet with each other er are so close t0 each other that their spacing, if any, is substantially smaller than the thickness of the legs. The legs 2a, 2b diverge continuonsly from the respective connecting portions toward the head portion.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show respective zipper sections in tcp view. They are held together by interlocking elements having members shaped according to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5 01 6. The zippers of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 ditfer by the sewing stitches employed for fastening the interlocking elements tb tlie zipper tap'es.

Tl:ie elements cf FIG. 7 2ire fastened t the resPective tapes 10 by single longitudinal rows 0f lock stitches 11.

In the exan1pleof FIG.. 8, the elemen ts are fa stened to the tapes bY respeetive searns oflongitudlnal chain stitehes 12 In FIG. 9, the interlocking elem ents are illustra'ted a5 being secured to tapes by rne ans of zig-zag stitches 1,3. In all sewing methods, the threads pass through the tape in tl ie space between the respebtive leg portions of each pait of cdnebutive niembers.

While the invention ha s been descri bed with referenc'e to specific embqdiments; it will be understood that modifications and lterationg may be made therein without departifig fror'n the s'piiit and scope of the iiiVntion as set for thin theappended claims.

Thfs applic'ation iS a diviidfi eopending application Serial No 831628 filed on August 4, 1959.

Wht iS 'claiined is: y i k 7 1. In a zipper, an eloiigatecl,normally straight element c'oxhiubs"ed of a pl1iialitj df longitudinally eons ecutive interlocking members, and constitnted by a ingle length of elzisti'cally res'ilient elbhateid niaterial, contiguous longitudinal sections of said.length of material constituting in e:ich f said r'nenib'rs, in order: V

(a) a fir st connecting portion in common With an adjace'1it Other member;

(b) a first leg portidn;

(c) a head portion;

(d) a secnd leg p'oi'tin; and

(e) a se cgndonnecting portion in common with another adja;ent mefnber,

(1) said pprtions' being eac h elorigated,

(2) said leg portions and said head portion of each member exteriding in -a cornmon plane transverse o'f the normal direction of elongation of said 'elenient,

(3)said connecting porticns of each member being obllquely inclined relative to said eornmon plane and to said normal direction of elongation, and

(4) said leg portionsof each member being asymmetrical With respect to any line transverse of said head portloi1 in said common plane.

2. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, said leg portions continunnsly diverging frorn each other in said cdmmon plane from the respectively contiguous conriecting portions in a direction toward said head ortion.

3. In a zipper as Set foith claim 1, said first leg pertion f each meniber being subs'tzintially straight.

4. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, said leg portions of each niember having opposite respective faces, one of said faces being convexly curved in said common plane.

5 In a zipper as set fortl1 in claim 1, the spacing f said leg portions of each member in the common plane thereof adjacent the respe ctive contiguou Connecting pfo'rtions being smaller than the t hickhess of said leg portions.

6. In a zipper as set fofth in claim 1, respedtive pa1fts o f the first and seeond legportipns of each member spacged from the a ssociated head portion being in contact With each o ther in said cqmmon plane. v

7. In a zipper as set forth in claim 1, supporting tape means and a plurality f stitches respectively seeuring saidjnterloc king mem berg of said element to said ta p means eacl 1 sti teh pas si ng ov e r b oth leg portitpns of the corresponding ii1terlocking member, and passi.ng tra fis'- ver sely t hxpngh sai cl tape rneans adjacent' said leg pgrtiong and interme dizite the head por tion and ene of the cenn'ecting pottion of Said corresponding inte'rldcking n'1ernber;

Referen c e's Citetl in the file bf this patent 

1. IN A ZIPPER, AN ELONGATED, NORMALLY STRAIGHT ELEMENT COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY CONSECUTIVE INTERLOCKING MEMBERS, AND CONSTITUTED BY A SINGLE LENGTH OF ELASTICALLY RESILIENT ELONGATED MATERIAL, CONTIGUOUS LONGITUDINAL SECTIONS OF SAID LENGTH OF MATERIAL CONSTITUTING IN EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, IN ORDER: (A) A FIRST CONNECTING PORTION IN COMMON WITH AN ADJACENT OTHER MEMBER; (B) A FIRST LEG PORTION; (C) A HEAD PORTION; (D) A SECOND LEG PORTION; AND (E) A SECOND CONNECTING PORTION IN COMMON WITH ANOTHER ADJACENT MEMBER, (1) SAID PORTIONS BEING EACH ELONGATED, (2) SAID LEG PORTIONS AND SAID HEAD PORTION OF EACH MEMBER EXTENDING IN A COMMON PLANE TRANSVERSE OF THE NORMAL DIRECTION OF ELONGATION OF SAID ELEMENT, (3) SAID CONNECTING PORTIONS OF EACH MEMBER BEING OBLIQUELY INCLINED RELATIVE TO SAID COMMON PLANE AND TO SAID NORMAL DIRECTION OF ELONGATION, AND (4) SAID LEG PORTIONS OF EACH MEMBER BEING ASYMMETRICAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY LINE TRANSVERSE OF SAID HEAD PORTION IN SAID COMMON PLANE. 